Burkina Faso | history - geography | Britannica.com Burkina Faso National anthem of Burkina Faso Official name multiparty republic with one legislative body (National Assembly [127])1 Head of state President: Roch Marc Christian Kaboré Head of government Prime Minister: Paul Kaba Thieba Capital Literacy: percentage of population age 15 and over literate Male: (2007) 36.7% GNI per capita (U.S.$) (2014) 710 1A transitional government (effective November 2014) came to an end upon the inauguration of a democratically elected president on Dec. 29, 2015, and a new National Assembly elected its president (Salif Diallo) the following day. Burkina Faso, landlocked country in western Africa . The country occupies an extensive plateau, and its geography is characterized by a savanna that is grassy in the north and gradually gives way to sparse forests in the south. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Burkinabé woman decorating a hut, Zécco, Burkina Faso.

© Margaret Courtney-Clarke/Corbis A former French colony, it gained independence as Upper Volta in 1960; the name Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Incorruptible People,” was adopted in 1984. The capital, Ouagadougou , is in the centre of the country and lies about 500 miles (800 km) from the Atlantic Ocean . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Land Burkina Faso is bounded by Mali to the north and west, Niger to the northeast, Benin to the southeast, and Côte d’Ivoire , Ghana , and Togo to the south. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Relief, drainage, and soils Burkina Faso is situated on an extensive plateau, which is slightly inclined toward the south.

The lateritic (red, leached, iron-bearing) layer of rock that covers the underlying crystalline rocks is deeply incised by the country’s three principal rivers—the Black Volta (Mouhoun), the Red Volta (Nazinon), and the White Volta (Nakambé)—all of which converge in Ghana to the south to form the Volta River . The Oti , another tributary of the Volta, rises in southeastern Burkina Faso. Great seasonal variation occurs in the flow of the rivers, and some rivers become dry beds during the dry season. In the southwest there are sandstone plateaus bordered by the Banfora Escarpment, which is about 500 feet (150 metres) high and faces southeast. Much of the soil in the country is infertile. Climate African Leaders: Part One The northern part of the country consists of savanna , with prickly shrubs and stunted trees that flourish during the rainy season. In the south, the prickly shrubs give way to scattered forests, which become more dense along the banks of the perennial rivers.

The karite (shea tree) and the baobab (hibiscus tree) are endemic in this region. Animal life includes buffalo, antelope, lions, hippopotamuses, elephants, crocodiles, and monkeys. Bird and insect life is rich and varied, and there are many species of fish in the rivers. Burkina Faso’s national parks include Po in the south-centre of the country, Arly in the southeast, and “W” in the east, straddling the border with Benin and Niger. People Ethnic groups and languages The major ethnolinguistic group of Burkina Faso is the Mossi . They speak a Niger-Congo language of the Gur branch and have been connected for centuries to the region they inhabit. They have absorbed a number of peoples including the Gurma and the Yarse. The last-mentioned group has Mande origins but is assimilated into the Mossi and shares their language (called Moore). Other Gur-speaking peoples are the Gurunsi, the Senufo , the Bwa , and the Lobi . Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

western Africa Mande languages , which also form a branch of the Niger-Congo family, are spoken by groups such as the Samo, the Marka, the Busansi, and the Dyula . Other groups of Burkina Faso include the Hausa and the Tuareg , whose languages are classified as Afro-Asiatic , and the Fulani , whose language (Fula) is a Niger-Congo language of the Atlantic branch . Citizens of Burkina Faso, regardless of their ethnic origin, are collectively known as Burkinabé. French is the official language, although it is not widely spoken. Moore , the language of the Mossi, is spoken by a great majority of the population, and Dyula is widely used in commerce. Religion More than half the population is Muslim. About one-fifth of the Burkinabé are Roman Catholic, and one-sixth follow traditional religions. Most of the remainder are Protestant or nonreligious. The seat of the Roman Catholic archbishopric is in Ouagadougou , and there are several bishoprics throughout the country. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Settlement patterns The population as a whole is unevenly distributed among the different regions.

The eastern and central regions are densely settled and contain about half the total population. In the remaining regions the population is scattered. About three-fourths of the people are rural and live in villages, which tend to be grouped toward the centre of the country at higher elevations away from the Volta river valleys. For several miles on either side of the Volta rivers, the land is mostly uninhabited because of the prevalence of the deadly tsetse fly , which carries sleeping sickness , and the Simulium fly, which carries onchocerciasis , or river blindness. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Ouagadougou , the administrative capital and the seat of government, is a modern city where several companies have their headquarters. It is also the residence of the morho naba (“great lord”) of the Mossi and an important regional centre for international aid programs. French embassy building, Ouagadougou, Burk. Walter Weiss/Ostman Agency Apart from Ouagadougou, the principal towns are Bobo Dioulasso , Koudougou , Banfora, Ouahigouya, Pouytenga, and Kaya.

Bobo Dioulasso, in the west, was the economic and business capital of the country when it formed the terminus of the railroad running to Abidjan , Côte d’Ivoire, on the coast. Since 1955, however, when the railroad was extended to Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso has lost some of its former importance, although it remains a commercial centre. Demographic trends In the early 21st century, yearly population growth averaged about 3 percent; nearly half the population was below age 15. Average life expectancy was just above 50 years—lower than the global average but similar to that of neighbouring countries. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Economy About nine-tenths of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture or livestock raising. Difficult economic conditions, made worse by severe intermittent droughts, have provoked considerable migration from rural to urban areas within Burkina Faso and to neighbouring countries, most notably Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. As many as 1.5 million people, or almost one-third of the country’s labour force, have been abroad at any given time.

(In the early 21st century, however, unrest in neighbouring countries, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, made it difficult for Burkinabés to find employment.) The development of industry in Burkina Faso is hampered by the small size of the market economy and by the absence of a direct outlet to the sea. Beginning in the late 1990s, the government began to privatize some state-owned entities in order to attract foreign investment. Agriculture Agricultural production consists of subsistence foodstuffs, with the surplus being sold as cash crops. Surplus cotton, shea nuts, sesame, and sugarcane are exported, while sorghum , millet , corn (maize), peanuts (groundnuts), and rice are grown for local consumption . Fonio (a crabgrass with seeds that are used as cereal), cassava (manioc), sweet potatoes, and beans are also grown. Livestock raising is one of the principal sources of revenue; animals raised include cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, camels, chickens, ducks, and guinea fowl. Resources Minerals, particularly manganese and gold , are the chief sources of potential wealth for the country.

There are gold mines at Poura, southwest of Koudougou, and smaller gold deposits near Sebba and Dori-Yalogo in the north exist. Reserves of nickel, bauxite, zinc, lead, and silver are also found in the country. Burkina Faso’s substantial manganese deposits at Tambao in the northeast potentially represent its most important resource and one of the world’s richest sources of this mineral. Exploitation is limited by existing transport inadequacies. Manufacturing Industry is limited to a number of plants that are mainly in the cities and larger towns. Chief manufactures include foodstuffs, beverages, textiles, shoes, and bicycle parts. Finance Burkina Faso’s currency is the CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) franc , which has been officially pegged to the euro . It is issued by the Central Bank of West African States, an agency of the West African Economic and Monetary Union , which consists of eight countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau , Mali, Niger, Senegal , and Togo) that were once French colonies in Africa.

Branches of the central bank in Burkina Faso are located in Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Among the partially or wholly state-owned commercial banks, the most important is the Banque Internationale du Burkina in Ouagadougou. Burkina Faso is also a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a body encompassing most states in western Africa, which attempts to integrate and harmonize the economic interests of the region. One of the poorest countries in the world, Burkina Faso relies heavily on international aid and on remittances from migrants to help offset its current account deficit. Trade Burkina Faso’s main exports in the early 21st century included cotton, gold, livestock, sugar, and fruit. Most of its exports are sent to neighbouring African countries, but some, including cotton and minerals, are exported to China, Singapore, and the countries of the European Union . Chief imports include petroleum, chemical products, machinery, and foodstuffs, which mainly come from surrounding countries as well as from France .

There is a deficit in the balance of payments, largely because of the relatively small amounts of exports, which are not of sufficient value to equal the value of imported materials required for promoting further development. Transportation A rail line links Ouagadougou to the port of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire; it is some 700 miles (1,100 km) long, of which about 320 miles (500 km) run through Burkina Faso. (For several years in the early 2000s, the line was closed because of civil war in Côte d’Ivoire). Running from east to west before crossing the border, the line serves the towns of Koudougou, Bobo Dioulasso, and Banfora. The capital is also linked by road to the principal administrative centres in the country and to the capitals of neighbouring countries. Burkina Faso’s road networks are poorly developed, with only a small percentage of the network usable year-round. The remainder consists mostly of unpaved rural roads. International airports are located at Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso. Numerous smaller airstrips are found throughout the country.

Government and society Constitutional framework Burkina Faso’s constitution was adopted by referendum in 1991 and has since been amended . It allows for multiparty elections and a parliamentary republic with a president as chief of state and a prime minister, who is appointed by the president, as the head of the government . The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and may serve up to two consecutive terms. The legislative branch of the government is represented by the National Assembly, whose members are elected by universal suffrage for five-year terms. In 2014 popular unrest led to the dissolution of the government in October, followed by the establishment of a transitional administration in November. It was succeeded by a democratically elected government that commenced with the inauguration of a new president and a new National Assembly in late December 2015 and a new prime minister in January 2016. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Local government Burkina Faso is divided into régions, which in turn are divided into provinces, which are further divided into départements. Each région is administered by a governor, and each province is administered by a high commissioner. Health and welfare The state of health of the Burkinabé is generally poor.

Most hospitals are in the larger towns, but the government has improved access to primary health care by increasing the number of village clinics. Main causes of death in Burkina Faso include lower respiratory diseases, malaria , and diarrheal diseases . Other diseases in the country include onchocerciasis , sleeping sickness , leprosy , yellow fever , and schistosomiasis . Periodic droughts have contributed to malnutrition and related diseases, especially among young children and pregnant women. Burkina Faso has a lower prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS than do many other African countries, although it is higher than the world average. The government has focused on prevention and treatment of AIDS with some success, and the prevalence rate has decreased since the beginning of the 21st century. Education School enrollment is one of the lowest in Africa, even though the government devotes a large portion of the national budget to education. French is the language of instruction in primary and secondary schools. About one-fourth of the population aged 15 and older is literate. The primary institution for higher education is Ouagadougou University (established 1974). Research institutes in Ouagadougou offer degrees in rural engineering and hydrology.

There are a polytechnic university and a college for rural development in Bobo Dioulasso. A university was established in Koudougou in 2005. Some Burkinabé seek higher education in France, Senegal, or Côte d’Ivoire. Cultural life Folkloric traditions are rich in Burkina Faso, reflecting the country’s ethnic diversity . The Mossi are known for creating antelope masks that reach heights of up to 7 feet (2 metres). Bobo butterfly masks and the wood carvings of the Lobi are also well regarded for their artistry. The biennial Pan-African Film Festival (FESPACO) in Ouagadougou is popular, as is the International Crafts Fair, which celebrates the country’s artisans. The National Museum (1962) in the capital city houses artifacts from the country’s diverse ethnic groups. Information about earlier inhabitants of the area can be gleaned from the ruins of a fortified settlement at Loropéni, located in the southern part of the country. The ruins date back some 1,000 years and were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009.

Several daily newspapers are published, including the government-sponsored Sidwaya (“Truth”), as well as a number of weeklies. Burkina Faso has made a major effort to become competitive on the African sports scene. Wrestling is popular in the country, and Burkinabé athletes have competed in the African Nations Traditional Wrestling Championship. The country has its own basketball league and an annual international cycling tour. Football (soccer), however, is by far the country’s passion. Burkina Faso boasts a highly competitive national football league, and the national team has competed in the African Nations Cup tournament. Upper Volta first sent an Olympic team to the 1972 Munich Games, although the first athletes from Upper Volta to participate in the Olympics were two javelin throwers who competed in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics as members of the French team. The country’s first participation in the Olympics as Burkina Faso was in the 1988 Seoul Games. History Early history Axes belonging to a Neolithic culture have been found in the north of Burkina Faso. The Bobo , the Lobi , and the Gurunsi are the earliest known inhabitants of the country.

About the 15th century ce, conquering horsemen invaded the region from the south and founded the Gurma and Mossi kingdoms, in the eastern and central areas, respectively. Several Mossi kingdoms developed, the most powerful of which was that of Ouagadougou, located in the centre of the country. Headed by an emperor, the morho naba (“great lord”), the Ouagadougou Mossi state defeated attempted invasions by the Songhai and Fulani empires yet maintained valuable commercial links with major western African trading powers, including the Dyula , the Hausa , and the Asante . European exploration and colonization The German explorer Gottlob Adolf Krause traversed the Mossi country in 1886, and the French army officer Louis-Gustave Binger visited the morho naba in 1888.

France obtained a protectorate over the Yatenga empire in 1895, and the French officers Paul Voulet and Charles Paul Louis Chanoine (also known as Julien Chanoine) defeated the morho naba Boukari-Koutou (Wobogo) of Mossi in 1896 and then proceeded to overrun the Gurunsi lands. The Gurma accepted a French protectorate in 1897, and in that same year the lands of the Bobo and of the Lobi were annexed by the French (though the Lobi, armed with poisoned arrows, were not effectively subdued until 1903). An Anglo-French convention of 1898 fixed the frontier between France’s new acquisitions and the northern territories of the Gold Coast . The French divided the country into administrative cercles (“circles”) but maintained the chiefs, including the morho naba, in their traditional seats. The country at first was attached to Upper Senegal–Niger (as that colony was called from 1904 to 1920; now Mali ) but was organized as a separate colony, Upper Volta (Haute-Volta), in 1919.

In 1932 it was partitioned between Côte d’Ivoire , Niger , and French Sudan . In 1947, however, Upper Volta was reestablished to become an overseas territory of the French Union , with a territorial assembly of its own. The assembly in 1957 received the right to elect an executive council of government for the territory, which at the end of 1958 was transformed into an autonomous republic within the French Community . When independence was proclaimed on August 5, 1960, the new constitution provided for an executive president elected by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term and an elected Legislative Assembly . Burkina Faso This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Burkina Faso University of Ouagadougou Origin of the flag In August 1984 there was a coup and a new flag and emblem were adopted. The new flag, adopted 4 August 1984 , is in the pan-African colours, reflecting both a break with the country’s colonial past and its unity with other African ex-colonies.

The red is also said to symbolize the revolution and the green the abundance of natural riches. The yellow star placed over the red and green stripes is the guiding light of the revolution. Ivan Sache, 26 December 1999, quoting from [ rya97 ] New flag I believe that was a personal decision of pro-soviet president Sankara, perhaps under Vietcong inspiration (this is a personal observation). Flag was adopted 4 August 1984, first anniversary of the people’s democratic revolution (Sankara coup). According communication of the Comité de Defense de la Revolution to Lucien Philippe en August 1984, the red is the symbol of the revolutionary struggle, the green is for agriculture, abundance and hope; and yellow is for countries riches. Its five points symbolize the guidance of the revolution. Jaume Ollé, 1 January 2000 Proposed meaning The school teacher Rouamba Adama, from the primary school of Yandeguin in Koudougou, sent a plea for the Burkinabe national flag to the newspaper Sidwaya. The letter was published in 12 December 2004.

After a description of the national flag, Adama gives the following meaning for the colours: red symbolizes the blood shed yesterday, today and tomorrow by the martyres of the Revolution to ensure the victory. Moreover, red represents all the sacrifices of the Burkinabe people. green symbolizes the agricultural wealth of the country. Moreover, green symbolizes plenty, which shall ensure the happiness of the people. the yellow star is the ideological guide of the People’s and Democratric Revolution in its shining progress. Ivan Sache, 31 December 2004 Efforts to raise flag awareness Colonel Mamadou Djerma, Grand Chancellor of the National Orders of Burkina Faso, wants each Brukinabe to hoist the national flag for the national day (11 December). Here are some extracts (my translation from French) of an interview he gave to Issa Soma and Jean-Philippe Tougouma, from the newspaper Sidwaya (full version here ): You released a communique asking the citizens to put a national flag on their door, roof, vehicle… What does it mean? All Burkinabes shall know the meaning of the national flag.

In the USA ; for instance, for the national day, all doors, vehicles, houses are decorated with the flag. This means that they love their country. When you love your country, you should have your national flag. I noticed that people do not know well the flag . That is why I released the communiqué, so that everybody knows that on the national day he should have the flag. […] In our country, the flag is hardly seen except during football matches. I was recently in a border city where the flag was hoisted, but I confirm that this was not the flag of Burkina Faso . We released a decree requiring that the flag was raised in front of all government bodies (high commissionates, city halls, police, gendarmerie, ministries). Unfortunately, there are ministries where nobody is available to raise the flag. […] I released another decree prescribing the raising of the colours in the schools. What will be done in the future to help the citizens to purchase a flag? We can help but we will not give the flag for free. The flag shall be paid. I can pay the flag and give it to all citizens.

I plan a training session for the tailors from the provinces so that they know the official dimensions , the cut, the size… of the flag. This would prevent people to manufacture themselves incorrect flags . I plan to ask the governors to send in 2005 a tailor from each region to the training session. Therefore, the flags could be made locally in the governorates rather than in Ouagadougou [the capital city]. Is there a link between your call and the National Week for Citizenship? The authority of the state includes public-spiritedness. People shall respect the raising of the flag. It is an important, public-spirited act. The flag represents the Nation. I personally fought during the War of Indochina [in the French Army]. During the battle, when the flag bearer was hit by a bullet, a soldier jumped on him and took the flag. The flag shall never touch the ground […] The flag represents everything for a people. One should never have fun with the flag. [The next paragraph does not seem to be correctly placed] We sent a decree to the local authorities. I plan funds for the purchase of flags. We have flags that are sold at lower price.

We called the owners of the SOTRACO [transport company] so that they hoist on their buses pennants of the national flag (sic: fanions du drapeau national). Ivan Sache, 31 Dec 2004 The school teacher Rouamba Adama, from the primary school of Yandeguin in Koudougou, sent a plea for the Burkinabe national flag to the newspaper Sidwaya. The letter was published in 12 December 2004. Adama regrets that such beautiful colours have so few admirers. Raising the flag is a reminiscence from the Revolution. However, thousands of school do not have an acceptable flag pole, whereas the prefectures have stopped the raising of the flag for years. The reason for this abandon of flag raising are: the price of the flag. At the Grand Chancelry, a satin flag costs 6,000 francs CFA whereas a cotton flag costs 2,000 francs CFA [see details ]. However, the national cause is priceless. It is possible to find cheaper solutions, as can be seen during the football matches, when home-made flags cost c.

1,500 francs CFA. Such flags could fit a pedagogical use. the lack of an official law or decree prescribing the respect of the national flag in schools. This is mostly a lack of communication, since decrees concerning the national flag are sometimes forwarded to the schools. For instance, the decree 2004-54/Meba/DREBA-CO was forwarded by the Circumscription of Basic Education of Koudougou #2 in the province of Boulkiemde on 10 February 2004. the increasing lack of interest of young people for politics and the decrease of patriotism, which must be the true reason. Adama proposes the following solutions: a campaign «a school, a national flag» in the framework of the reestablishment of school uniform, the national emblem could be integrated to the new uniform. For instance, the upper third of the pocket could have the national colours. It is suggested that the deputies and ministers organize the distribution of 50 national flags to each school of the country.

Ivan Sache, 31 Dec 2004 Presidential flag image by Željko Heimer and António Martins, 27 May 2004 According to [ pay00 ], it is square version of the national flag with a golden border (fringe?) around the three “free” edges. Ivan Sache, 07 April 2001 Other flags Burkina Faso has currently 30 provinces, an Army and an Air Force , so there might be other flags to track… Ivan Sache, 26 December 1999 At the Ouagadougou Municipality website , all about the city’s new coat of arms, but no flag info. Since this would be the place to look for a municipal flag, and since that this is the capital city, I guess that we may assume that there are no official subnational flags in Burkina Faso.

António Martins, 23 November 2005 See also: reported by António Martins, 23 Nov 2005 1984 name change In 1984 the country became socialist and changed the name [from Upper Volta ] to Burkina Faso and the flag to the current red over green with central yellow star. Nick Artimovich, 05 June 1996 The meaning of Burkina Faso is "land of the incorruptibles", "land of the honourable men", I think in language Morée — which is the language of the Mossi, the biggest burkinabe people. Johannes Weigand, 27 February 1998 "Burkina Faso" is a combination of the Mossi ethnic group’s language, called More and the Bobo group’s Gur. This was an effort by then president Thomas Sankara to ensure continued harmony between these two groups.

David Bartlett, 14 February 2000 According to Fischers Weltalmanach 1985 (Frankfurt am Main, 1984), the state took first the french writing Bourkina-Fasso, from 4th to 15th of August, 1984, after they changed in Burkina Faso. Johannes Weigand, 27 February 1998 Already from the 4th August 1984 onwards the official country’s name was "Burkina Faso". The short hand name should be "Burkina", but is rarely used.

(sources: Letters and Press Releases by the Embassy of Burkina Faso, dated 11 August 1984 (reprinting an interview with Ouatamon Lamien, Director of the National Radio of Burkina Faso), 1985.07.05, 1985.12.26; Süddeutsche Zeitung, 1984.08.04-05, ibidem 1984.08.06, ibidem 1985.12.28-29; Die Welt, 18 September 1984.) Dieter Linde, 28 February 1998 Aircraft markings image by António Martins, 23 February 2005 According to [ pay00 ], the fuselage marking is a round version of the national flag. The national flag is painted on the fin.

Ivan Sache, 07 April 2001 Coat of arms of Burkina Faso image by Ivan Sache, 08 April 2001 The description of Coat of Arms was published in the Journal officiel du Burkina Faso Nr 38 of 18.09.97. Armand du Payrat, 09 January 1998 Constitution (Article 34) The emblem is the tricolor flag, rectangular and horizontal, red and green, with, centered, a yellow-gold, 5-pointed star. The law determines the arms and the meaning of their constitutive elements.

Law No 020/97/II/AN devoted to the description and meaning of the arms of Burkina Faso National Assembly of Burkina Faso According to the Constitution; According to Resolution n° OO01/97/AN of 07 June 1997, validating the mandate of the deputees in Burkina Faso; Deliberated in its session of 1st August 1997, and adopted the following law: Article 1: The arms of Burkina Faso are constituted as follows: one (1) shield bearing in chief, on a silver scroll the name of the country "BURKINA FASO"; in the middle an escutcheon with two (2) stripes in fasce bearing the national emblem and "broching" on two (2) crossed lances; two (2) reared-up silver stallions supporting the escutcheon on each side; in the bottom an open book; below, two (2) millet stalks with three pairs of green, half-mooned, leaves, equidistant from the vertical line going through the points of the escutcheon and the upper branch of the star of the emblem.

Stalks are crossed and linked at the basis by a flame bearing the national motto "Unity - Progress - Justice". The flame supports the whole "millet stalks - lances - escutcheon". Article 2: The two stallions symbolize the nobility of the burkinabe people; their position means action and their disposition the necessity and importance of the union that makes the force of the people. The escutcheon symbolizes the protection of the nation and the love of the country; shield against the hazards, rampart again all aggressions, he ensures the security of the state. The lances symbolize the determination of the sons of Burkina Faso to protect their country; their crossed design means vigilancy and bravery of this nation. The open book symbolizes the quest for knowledge and education, factors of progress and development. Millet spikes symbolize the will of food independence and abundance. Article 3: The present law will be reinforced as a law of the State. This was done and deliberated in public audience in Ouagadougou on 1st August 1997.

translated by Ivan Sache, 15 Apr 1999, from the official governmental site ; see here the original text This is one of those not really “eu-heraldic” emblems but which is just this close… Its shield bears a representation of the national flag, which in turn can be termed with no favour a heraldic design: per fess gules and vert an estoile or over all. António Martins, 23 November 2005 Burkina Faso is one more to join the number of countries whose national flag has determined the national coat of arms, just like Iceland or the Dominican Republic . These flags not actual banners of arms because the flag appeared first, though from a synchronic point of view there is no difference — one needs to know the history of each flag and coat of arms. António Martins, 23 November 2005 Blaise Campoare, the President of Burkina Faso, might have decided to modify the country emblem towards a less belliquous and Afro-marxist image (as well as he has progressively drifted from the strong Afro-marxist orientation given by his ex-brother-in-arms T.

Sankara, who had made the 1984 coup). What is more stranger is that the new coat of arms re-uses some elements of the Upper-Volta coat of arms (the stallions, the crossed lances, the sorghum plants) shown in Smith [ smi75b ] and also the book which was present in the former arms but not in the Upper-Volta arms. The motto of Upper-Volta was then Unité - Travail - Justice and the new one is… Unité - Progrés - Justice! I think it is another very interesting case of re-use of ancient symbols after successive radical political changes. Ivan Sache, 26 December 1999 Former coat of arms The coat of arms shows a cog-wheel and a star to represent the revolution of 1984. Within the cog-wheel is a hoe representing agriculture, crossed with a Kalashnikov rifle symbolizing the willingness to defend the country and a book reflecting the importance of education. They are placed together to represent the alliance of workers, soldiers and intellectuals. Around the cog-wheel are sorghum plants.

At the base is a scroll with the national motto — «La Patrie Ou La Mort — Nous Vaincrons» («Our country or death — We will conquer»). Ivan Sache, 26 December 1999, quoting from [ rya97 ] Burkina Faso Map / Geography of Burkina Faso / Map of Burkina Faso - Worldatlas.com Print this map Burkina Faso, once known as Upper Volta, and as the longtime kingdom of the Mossi people, was first populated between 14,000 and 5,000 BC by hunter-gatherers. Between the 10th and 11th centuries, Mossi tribes immigrated into the region from Ghana , pushing out the original Yonyonse inhabitants, and began creating complex states complete with powerful militaries. There were a number of Mossi kingdoms within Burkina Faso, the most significant being the Wagadogo (Ouagadougou) and Yatenga, and they survived until the late 19th century.

Following a decade of intense rivalry and competition with Britain and France , the Mossi's were defeated by French forces, and subsequently colonized in 1896. In 1958, the region-achieved self-governance, becoming the Republic of Upper Volta, and by 1960 had gained complete independence from France . Subsequently, the Upper Volta suffered from numerous military coups in its early days as a new nation. In 1983 Thomas Sankara, a Burkinabe military captain, Marxist revolutionary and Pan-Africanist theorist, seized power, and became president. Sankara changed the name of Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning "the country of honorable people" on August 4, 1984; he was a widely regarded and charismatic leader whose revolutionary programs for African self-reliance made him an icon to Africa's poor. In 1987 a French -backed coup overthrew and then assassinated Sankara as a result of his revolutionary ideals, and Captain Blaise Compaore came into power.

Dissatisfied with the progression of the country, a new constitution was drafted in 1991, and countrywide elections held the following year - the results of which helped form a stable coalition government. With a high population density and very limited natural resources, most of the citizens remain economically suppressed. Local health conditions are improving, but still generally poor in the rural areas. The country is reported to have the second-highest illiteracy rate on the planet. The death of a schoolboy in early 2011 sparked a country-wide uprising, complete with military mutiny, lasting some two months before they were subdued by a consideration to change the constitution. See Also Burkina Faso - Upper Volta - Country Profile - Nations Online Project Flag of Burkina Faso Location map of Burkina Faso A virtual guide to Burkina Faso, the land of the upright/honest people. Burkina Faso (formerly known as Upper Volta; French: Haute Volta) is a landlocked country located in the middle of West Africa 's "hump." It lies geographically in the Sahel zone, the transition zone between the Sahara Desert in north and the tropical savanna in south.

The country is bordered by Mali in north and north west, by Niger in east, by Benin in south east and by Cote d'Ivoire , Ghana , and Togo in south. Burkina Faso occupies an area of 274,222 km², this is about three times the size of Austria , or slightly larger than the U.S. state of Colorado. Burkina Faso has a population of 19 million (in 2016); capital city is Ouagadougou . Spoken languages are French (official), and several native languages of the Sudanic family, spoken by about 90% of the Burkinabe population. Local Time = UTC (+-0; no UTC/GMT offset) Actual Time: Wed-Jan-18 03:42 Capital City: Ouagadougou (pop.1 million) Other Cities: Bobo-Dioulasso (450,000), Koudougou (90,000), Banfora, Dori, Fada N'Gourma, Ouahigouy. Government: Independence: 5 August 1960 (from France).

Constitution: 11 June 1991 formally adopted; amended April 2000. Geography: Location: Western Africa, north of Ghana. Area : 274,200 km² (106,000 sq. mi.). Terrain: Savanna; brushy plains and scattered hills. Climate: Sahelian; pronounced wet and dry seasons. People: Nationality: Burkinabe (accent on last e). Population : 19 million (2016) Ethnic groups: 63 ethnic groups among which are Mossi (almost half of the total population), Bobo, Mande, Lobi, Fulani, Gourounsi, and Sénoufo. Religions: Muslim 55%, Christian 25%, Traditional beliefs 20%. Languages : French, Mooré, Dioula, Fulfuldé, others. Literacy: 30% Natural resources: Manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt.

Agriculture products: Cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock Industries: Cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold. Exports - commodities: gold, cotton, livestock Exports partners: Switzerland 53.3%, India 14.5% (2015) Imports - commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum Imports partners: Cote dIvoire 23.1%, France 11.1%, Togo 7.5%, China 4.8%, Ghana 4.6% (2015) Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF) Note: External links will open in a new browser window. Official Sites of Burkina Faso Museum devoted to the history, arts and the traditions of the people of south-west: Gan and Lobi.

Ethnic groups: Mossi (48%, the people in central Burkina Faso, largest ethnic group) Fulani (10%, Fula people or Wolof, also Pël (Poel), are one of the largest ethnolinguistic groups in Africa) Lobi (7%), the Lobi people originated from what is today Ghana, they migrated into southern Burkina Faso and later into Côte d'Ivoire. Bobo (7%), Bobo people, an ethnic group living in the area of Bobo-Dioulasso in central west Burkina. Mandé (7%), Mandé people. Kassena , an ethnic group inhabiting the Kingdom of Dagbon in northern Ghana, and southern Burkina Faso, they are part of the Gurunsi people.

Question: What was the former name of Burkina Faso?
Answer: UPPER VOLTA